Thai consulate attacked in Turkey (with video)

Protesters broke into Thai consulate in Istanbul to protest Thailand's deportation of Uighur refugees to China. 173 Uighur refugees fled to Thailand from persecution in China's Xinjiang region last year on their way to Turkey.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Thai consulate attacked in Turkey

9/07/2015
Online Reporters

The Thai honorary consulate-general in Istanbul was closed on Thursday after being attacked overnight by a group protesting about Thailand's handling of ethnic Uighurs who fled China. No one was injured.

The daily Sabah Turkey reported that protesters broke into the consulate to denounce an unconfirmed report on Thailand's decision to extradite Uighur refugees to China.

It was reported the group gathered in front of the consulate to make a press statement around 11pm local time (about 3am Thai time). Then the protest turned violent and the crowd broke into the consulate building, smashed the windows and lowered the Thai flag. Security authorities later dispersed the group, it reported. There were no injuries reported.

The Thai embassy in Turkey through social media warned Thai people in the country to take precautions for their own safety. The Thai embassy reported that about 1,300 Thai people were living in Turkey.

RESETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES

In March last year, a total of 173 Uighurs were detained by Thai immigration authorities for illegally entering the country while fleeing persecution in China's restive northwestern Xinjiang region.

All of the detained Uighurs claimed to be from Turkey.

However, only those who were able to prove they had Turkish relatives were sent to Turkey.

A source was quoted as saying most Uighur migrants have been sent to Istanbul and Kayseri city, which have large Uighur communities.

Several hundred migrants had been detained in Songkhla province since the first group was found on March 13 last year.

DEPORTATION OF UIGHURS TO CHINA & TURKEY
Reuters and DPA

Today it was announced that, "Thailand sent around 100 Uighurs back to China yesterday. Thailand has worked with China and Turkey to solve the Uighur Muslim problem. We have sent them back to China after verifying their nationality," deputy government spokesman Weerachon Sukondhapatipak said.

The spokesman confirmed that 173 Uighurs were deported to Turkey a week ago, and that after the latest deportation a few more remained in custody as their country of origin had not yet been determined.

BACKGROUND

Turkey has been battling with China over where the Uighur refugees in Thailand should be sent and over their treatment by Beijing.

Both China and Turkey claimed to be their country of origin.

Hundreds, possibly thousands, of Uighurs have fled unrest in China's western Xinjiang region where hundreds of people have been killed, prompting a crackdown by Chinese authorities. They have travelled clandestinely through Southeast Asia to Turkey.

HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS

Rights groups have expressed concern over Thailand's decision to send the Uighurs back to China fearing they could face ill treatment and even torture.

"It is very shocking and disturbing that Thailand caved in to pressure from Beijing," Sunai Phasuk, Thailand researcher at Human Rights Watch, told Reuters.

"By forcibly sending back at least 90 Uighurs, Thailand has violated international law. In China they can face serious abuses including torture and disappearance."

TURKISH CONCERN

China's treatment of the Uighurs is an important issue for many Turks who see themselves as sharing a common cultural and religious background.

Earlier this week, Beijing issued a travel warning for Turkey after a string of xenophobic incidents against Chinese targets.

The World Uighur Congress, an umbrella organisation for the Uighur diaspora, criticised the "covert, and indeed heinous, operation" by Thailand.

The group had warned that the ethnic Muslim Uighurs would face "criminal allegations" and "heavy-handed" punishment in China.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/618268/thai-consulate-attacked-in-turkey

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/618344/govt-confirms-deportation-of-90-uighurs-to-china

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/security/612152/173-uighur-refugees-held-in-thailand-arrive-in-turkey

http://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/repatriation-07082015175513.html

http://www.dailysabah.com/nation/2015/07/08/group-protesting-uighur-turks-extradition-to-china-attacks-thailand-consulate-in-istanbul

https://twitter.com/dailysabah

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